Chapter XVII

WIDOW OF NAIN--MESSENGERS OF JOHN--WOES ON CAPERNAUM.

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain: and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her,

Weep not.

And he came and touched the bier, and they that bare _him_ stood still. And he said,

Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of _their_ infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many _that were_ blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them,

Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard:
how that the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised
up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed
is _he_, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And when the messengers of John were departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John,

What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken
with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed
in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft _clothing_--they
which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in
king's courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet?
yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is _he_
of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before thy
face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women,
there hath not risen a greater prophet than John the Baptist:
notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until
now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied
until John. And if ye will receive _it_, this is Elias, which
was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And all the people that heard _him_, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said,

Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and
to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in
the market place, and calling one to another, and saying, We
have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned
to you, and ye have not wept.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking
wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come
eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and
a wine bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom
is justified of all her children.

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

Woe unto thee Chorasin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the
mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre
and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and
ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre
and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be
brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been
done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained
until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than
for thee.

At that time Jesus answered and said,

I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou
hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes. Even so Father: for so it seemed
good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my
Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and _he_ to
whomsoever the Son will reveal _him_.

Come unto me, all _ye_ that labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto
your souls. For my yoke _is_ easy, and my burden is light.